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Silver City will be the title sponsor for the 28th annual Tour of the Gila

Biking event will blow through the city and the Gila region once again

Sun-News report

Posted:
03/09/2014 04:48:00 PM MDT

SILVER CITY >> The Town of Silver City announces their continuing partnership as the title sponsor for the 28th Annual Tour of the Gila, the premier stage race in New Mexico. Presenting sponsor, SRAM has also committed for another year along with providing their Neutral Race Support team, ensuring another professionally supported year of the event, according to a news release.

Silver City's Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM has long been known as one of the toughest stage races in the United States, attracting both amateur and professional cyclists from around the world over the past 27 years.

"Tour of the Gila has been a signature event for the area for many, many years," Town of Silver City Manager Alex Brown said through a news release. "It's a model of exactly what our community is with the quality of life that it shows that we have. We see the economic benefits not only during the event but throughout the year from bicyclists. As far as the national and world advertising that we get, it's the largest event of the year for us."

Set in the historical and bike-friendly mining town, the five-stage race is part of the U.S.A. Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC), leading riders over 260 miles and roughly 18,000 feet of climbing in and around the Gila National Forest in Southwestern New Mexico. The men's race will continue as part of the UCI American Tour with a 2.2 ranking bringing top continental and Pro-continental teams.

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"The sponsors are on a year-to-year basis but we're happy to have their support," Race Director Jack Brennan said through a news release. "The neutral support provided by SRAM is huge. They had to drop down a little with their sponsorship dollars but this was nationwide. We're very happy to have them back."

The stages include three-road race stages, with one of the few true mountaintop finishes for the women's racing calendar in Mogollon, one time-trial set in Tyrone, and a circuit race right in the heart of downtown Silver City.

Highlighting the history, the famous Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument near the finish in Mogollon, dates back to 1230, when prehistoric Indians settled in the area. The regions' Native Americans inspired trophy bowls are presented each year to the winners in front of the Buckhorn Saloon, a building built in 1865 in Pinos Altos. Famous Wild West legends from Billy the Kid to Geronimo have links to the area as well.

The race holds a special place for bike racers as a right of passage for most while becoming a launching pad for young professionals in recent years looking to reach the top of their sport, according to a news release. Those who have stood out at the Gila and have gone on to race in the Pro Tour include Taylor Phinney, Andrew Talansky, Evan Huffman, and Joe Dombrowski. Other riders use the race for important preparation such as UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling's Mara Abbott who went on to win her second Giro Donne in Italy after winning the women's NRC race in 2013.

The professional teams for both the men and women's race will be announced later this month. The event continues to be an important one for amateurs as well, while registration continues through April.

For more information and the complete schedule of the 2014 Silver City's Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM, please visit www.tourofthegila.com.